29 Shizu's Feeling???

It hasn't been long since I established Genesis Valley, a sanctuary that has quickly become a cornerstone of my growing territory. Among its unique residents is Mistress Ninehead, Yasaka. After naming her, she underwent an extraordinary evolution, ascending to the form of a Ninetails an advanced, majestic species surpassing her previous state. This transformation made her one of my most formidable subordinates, a feat that should have drained a significant portion of my magicules. However, the enchanted collar I gave her mitigated the cost. Yasaka, was more than eager to wear it, accepting her new role with pride.

It looks like, her daughter, Kumara, seems to have inherited much of Yasaka's personality. The resemblance is uncanny, though not unwelcome.

As for the other yokai and cryptids under my command, I've decided to hold off on naming them until they reach the peak of their current evolutionary stages. Naming them prematurely would be inefficient, as they remain relatively mediocre for now. I wish I had access to specialized barracks for cryptids to accelerate their growth and training, but not everything comes easily.

I hope to upgrade my Town Hall to level 15 or 16. I might unlock access to Spirit Fox, a species renowned for their incredible power and utility in Tensura. If I can incorporate Spirit Foxes into my forces...

"Leo focus, the envoy of the church will be arriving soon." Shizu's voice broke my train of thought, oh yes I replaced my wood clone the moment I got the information that the church may have an idea about recruiting me, it wasn't surprising despite me showing that I don't have much faith in their 'goddess' they were trying to recruit me mainly because I am exceptionally talented in holy magic much more than Hinata I would say and that is because I am God myself and a one with the divinity of Benevolence and other is my blood, a very cliché scenario if you ask me but my blood is like a drug to Vampires.

And the Church and Vampires...

I learned this from the Book of Lyros, which was mailed to me by someone named Athena; I don't even want to know about this person, but I learned many things about my dad and my bloodline, and I don't know what reaction I should give.

Honestly, the weirdest piece of knowledge was that people of Lyros bloodline can have as many kids as they want without suffering from the basic problems of every powerful being like difficulty in conceiving children, loss of power when a child is born and every child is full of potential.

These things reminded me of those protagonists who get stronger by indulging in debauchery, I wonder if my dad was some sort of protagonist, but this knowledge reduced a burden of mine of losing my strength when I had a child.

"Leo!"

"Sorry, Shizu."

And there the church's envoy is.

Hmm, is that Louis? Isn't he the pope or something like that? Why he is here? And with him, there were Paladins the elites of Temple Knights too.

That is weird.

(Inside the Church)

Shizu stood ahead of Hinata and me, bowing slightly as she addressed the man before us. "Holy Emperor, it is an honor. We were not expecting your presence here."

Louis, dressed in immaculate priest robes that shimmered faintly under the sunlight, inclined his head with a serene expression. His presence exuded both authority and calm a perfect reflection of his role as the Holy Emperor and Pope of the Church. "Shizu Izawa, the Conqueror of Flames," he replied in a soft, measured tone. "The honor is mine. It is not every day I meet such distinguished individuals."

I glanced at Shizu, noting the subtle tension in her stance. Louis's appearance here wasn't just unexpected it was extraordinary. The Holy Emperor rarely left his domain, and for him to personally greet us was a clear signal that something significant was at play.

Louis turned his gaze toward me, his eyes sharp and penetrating despite his composed demeanor. "And you must be Leo," he said, his voice carrying an undercurrent of curiosity. "Your reputation precedes you"

I nodded politely. "I hope it's a good reputation, Your Eminence."

A faint smile graced his lips. "That remains to be seen. Though your talent in holy magic has certainly garnered attention, as has your... unique background."

Unique background? I felt Shizu and Hinata glance at me, but I maintained a calm exterior. Louis didn't seem hostile, but his words were loaded.

"And this," Louis continued, shifting his attention to Hinata, "must be Hinata Sakaguchi. You, too, are someone of great potential, destined for remarkable things."

Hinata's expression didn't change, though her cold eyes locked onto Louis with a scrutinizing gaze. "Thank you, Your Eminence. But I must ask, why are you here personally? Surely someone of your stature has more pressing matters to attend to."

Louis chuckled lightly, a sound that seemed to reverberate through the hallowed halls of the church. "A fair question. My visit is not without purpose. Her Holiness, Goddess Luminous, has taken an interest in the two of you."

I stiffened slightly at the mention of Luminous. The True Demon Lord and ruler of the Holy Empire of Lubelius wasn't someone who meddled in trivial affairs. If she had taken an interest in us, it meant there was far more to this meeting than mere recruitment.

Louis continued, his voice growing more solemn. "Goddess Luminous has foreseen a time of great upheaval, and she believes that individuals like you, those with extraordinary talent and potential will play a crucial role in the days to come. She has instructed me to bring you both into the fold of the Church."

"Both of us?" Hinata asked, her tone laced with skepticism. "Forgive me, but I have little faith in the goddess or the Church itself." What the hell Hinata!

Louis didn't seem offended. Instead, he regarded her with a calm, almost understanding l"Faith can be cultivated, Hinata. What matters now is your potential and your willingness to work toward a greater purpose. The Church has the resources to refine your abilities, and under Goddess Luminous's guidance, you could reach heights you've never imagined."

"And what about me?" I asked, keeping my tone neutral. "I've never exactly been the religious type."

Louis's gaze shifted back to me, his expression unreadable. "You are different, Leo. Even without faith in Lady Luminous, your affinity for holy magic is remarkable...unnatural, even. That alone is enough to warrant our interest. But beyond that..." He paused as if weighing his words. "Lady Luminous believes you have a destiny that intertwines with the fate of this world."

I frowned inwardly. Vague prophecies and cryptic statements weren't exactly my favorite things to deal with. Still, it was clear that the Church saw me as more than just a talented mage.

"Does that mean we don't have a choice?" Hinata asked, her voice sharp.

Don't you want to join the church in the first place?

Louis's smile returned, though it didn't reach his eyes. "There is always a choice, Hinata. But I would urge you to consider this offer carefully. Rejecting it would not be without consequences."

The air grew heavy with unspoken tension. Shizu finally stepped forward, her voice steady and composed. "Your Eminence, we appreciate the Church's interest, but perhaps such decisions should not be made hastily. Leo and Hinata will need time to consider your proposal."

Louis regarded her for a moment before nodding. "Of course. I would expect nothing less. Take your time, but not too much, events are already in motion. When you are ready, you may contact me through the local Archbishop."

With that, Louis turned to leave, his robes flowing behind him. But before stepping out, he paused and glanced over his shoulder. "I trust we will see both of you in Lubelius soon. Goddess Luminous does not extend invitations lightly."

As he departed, the tension in the air seemed to dissipate slightly. Hinata crossed her arms, her expression as unreadable as ever, while Shizu let out a quiet sigh of relief.

"Well, that was... intense," I muttered.

Shizu shot me a look. "Leo, this isn't a joke. You need to take this seriously."

I turned to face Hinata, brushing off her glare with a half-hearted smile. "Didn't you want to join the church? Antagonizing your future boss isn't a good look."

Her glare intensified, and she crossed her arms in a way that screamed irritation. "I am joining the church, but the whole situation feels... off."

Her words gave me pause. She wasn't wrong, Louis's arrival, his cryptic words, and Luminous's sudden interest in me were all suspicious. But I had other concerns too, ones far removed from church politics.

'Hmm, that was weird,' I thought, mulling over the situation. 'But honestly, I don't have the time or patience to deal with joining the church. Sure, I'd love to learn that fancy [Disintegration] spell, but they're not going to just hand it over. They'll probably make me jump through a dozen hoops, and I've got bigger problems.'

The thought of managing my rapidly expanding kingdom weighed on me. Genesis Valley was thriving, but maintaining its momentum required more of my attention than I was willing to admit. Then there was Leonardo, my wood clone stationed in Ulgracia, who'd stumbled into a problematic situation.

I was hoping to use my newfound connections in Ulgracia to establish trade routes with Genesis Valley, but no. That plan had to be sidelined because something "unexpected" always had to happen.

And let's not even get started on Clash Continent. Moon City and Frozen Peak had already sent their envoys, and I had a sneaking suspicion that more were on the way. Between them, my pending contracts with the Graveyard of Kings, and the untamed dragons lurking in Dragon Cliffs, my plate was already overflowing.

"Leo!" Hinata's sharp voice yanked me out of my thoughts just as I caught her raising her rapier.

"Whoa!" I leaped back, narrowly avoiding what would have been a very unpleasant poke. "What are you doing, Hinata?"

Her glare didn't waver. "Where is your mind, huh? I'm asking you a simple question: are you joining the church or not?"

I sighed, running a hand through my hair. "Do I have to answer now? Can't I sleep on it for, like, a decade?"

She didn't find that funny.

"I'm serious, Leo," she snapped, stepping closer. "If you don't want to join, fine. But don't waste their time and don't drag me into any of your messes!"

I held up my hands in mock surrender. "Relax, Hinata. I haven't decided yet. But between you and me, I'm not exactly church material."

"And why's that?" she challenged, tilting her head.

"Do you see me as the kind of guy who sits quietly in a chapel all day, chanting prayers and wearing robes? I'd get kicked out on the first day for sneaking in snacks."

That earned me a small, reluctant smirk, but it quickly vanished under her usual stoic expression.

"It is not that and you know it, but fine. Just don't make me regret vouching for you if you change your mind," Hinata said, turning to walk away, her tone colder than the frost on Frozen Peak.

But I couldn't resist. Mischief was practically in my blood.

"But you'll definitely look hot in those church outfits, Hinata!" I shouted after her, grinning.

Her stride faltered. She stumbled mid-step, and even from this distance, I could see her ears turning a bright shade of red. Without another word, she quickened her pace, practically fleeing the scene.

Feeling triumphant, I chuckled to myself. "Classic Hinata," I muttered, but then...

Jiiiii... (𓁹 𓁹)

A chill ran down my spine. Slowly, I turned my head to find Shizu glaring at me, her arms crossed and an unmistakable fire in her eyes.

"Oh shit," I cursed under my breath.

Her expression was the kind that promised doom. For a moment, I wondered if Ifrit had decided to take control again but the temperature was becoming chilly.

"Shizu-sensei! I can explain!" I stammered, taking a cautious step back.

"I. Am. Listening. Leo." Her voice was calm, but it carried the weight of an impending eruption.

Beads of sweat formed on my forehead as I tried to come up with something, anything, that could get me out of this mess. My mind raced. Had she been acting... strange lately?

(The Night Before)

Shizu had jolted awake, a thin sheen of sweat on her forehead and an uncharacteristic flush on her cheeks.

In her dream, she was seated at a grand dining table. Around her were countless children laughing and playing, calling for their parents. She had felt warm, content even, until she noticed Leo at the head of the table.

Next to him was her, and on his other side... Hinata.

Her eyes widened in the dream as children ran up to her, tugging at her sleeves. "Mama, mama!" they called.

She blinked, looking around in confusion. Hinata, on the other hand, was being called "Aunty" by a group of giggling children who teased her about hesitating to join the family sooner.

Leo, of course, was as smug as ever, laughing and holding two toddlers on his lap. "See, Shizu? I told you we'd make a great team," he said, flashing that infuriating grin.

She had woken up in a panic, her heart pounding.

(Back in the Present)

Shizu's glare intensified as I stood there, trying to figure out why she looked like she was ready to turn me into a pile of ash.

"Shizu-sensei, I swear, I wasn't—"

"You weren't what?" she cut me off, her tone as sharp as a blade.

"I mean, I was just teasing Hinata! It's harmless!"

Her eyebrow twitched. "Harmless?"

I nodded rapidly, my survival instincts kicking in. "Absolutely harmless. Totally innocent. A little bit of fun between friends—"

"Then explain why you always say things like that so casually, hmm?" She leaned forward, her eyes narrowing dangerously.

For a moment, I considered teleporting out of there, but before I could, her voice softened too much.

"Leo," she said, her tone almost sweet, "you've been spending a lot of time with Hinata lately, haven't you?"

I froze. This was a trap. I knew it.

"N-not really," I stammered. "I mean, we're classmates, so—"

"And yet, you're always teasing her, giving her artifacts, teaching her spells... Am I not good enough as your teacher anymore?"

What? Where did that come from?

"No, no, Shizu-sensei! You're the best! The absolute best! No one can replace you!"

She stared at me for a long moment, her gaze piercing. Then, she sighed, the heat in the air dissipating slightly.

"Just... be careful with your words, Leo," she said finally, though her tone carried an odd mixture of frustration and something I couldn't quite place. "Some people might take them seriously."

As she turned to walk away, I couldn't help but wonder if she was remembering something—or someone—from her past.

And if I had been an idiot, I would not have noticed that her ears were just as red as Hinata's had been.

'But what caused all these changes I could not help but wonder.'

But who cares it is a good thing, I really like Shizu not to the point of love but it is definitely close and there is Hinata too, and others too, but these are not the main problems but Luminous' sudden interest in me, what was the reason.

~~~~

Our protagonist can be dumb sometimes~

Great Red is the bro.

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